Mike Pence: votes. and this leaves this package the majority -- the minority fully able to offer any motion to recommit or send it back to committee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. mr. frank: they can't play games. the eaker pro tempore: the gentman from california. mr. dreier: i'm happy to yield two minutes to mr. pence, chair of the republican conference.

Mike Pence: e speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from indiana is recognized for two minutes. mr. pence: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. pence: the republican members of the 111th congress collectively represent more than 100 million constituents in this nation. the changes that are being contemplated by the majority

Mike Pence: today represent an erosion, not of the interests of elected officials, not even of the interests of a political party but, mr. speaker, i say with respect, it represents an erosion of the interests represented in this place of over 100 million americans. as i listen to this debate, i

Mike Pence: can't help but wonder what our constituents who might be looking down from the gallery and looking in from elsewhere are thinking how does this affect them. instructions being promptly or forthwith, motions to recommit. but really what we are here to object to in this rules package

Mike Pence: is really the death of democracy in the democratic congress. what we do not wish to see is a return to the heavy-handed, imperial congress days that ruled capitol hill for some 40 years. walking away from the provisi of the current rules that allows the minority to offer a

Mike Pence: motion to recommit that would be promptly reported back erodes those minority interests, repealing term limits on committee chairman, erodes the fundamental reforms that the american people voted in this well in 1994.

Mike Pence: so as we prepare two weeks from today to receive a new presidt of the united states of america, as we are just a few hours past bipartisan speeches, it is important to know and to remind the american people that rules matter, the rules on the back of a box of a board game matter and the rules of the house matter and they